Peripheral chipper for round log sections

ABSTRACT

A rotating chipping drum carrying a spiral row of bits is mounted in a hollow body with a portion of its periphery exposed to a chipping chamber for holding log sections to be chipped. The rotative axis of the chipping drum may be inclined to urge a log section toward one end of the chipping chamber. Each bit includes side plate portions arranged at dihedral angles to a central plate portion and is clamped between bit-holding blocks with the bit cutting edge projecting beyond the periphery of the chipping drum.

[ 51 May 9, 1972 Salzmann......................,....144/162 RMitts.......1...............,........144/172 x ABSTRACT 6 Claims, 26Drawing Figures Primary Examiner-Donald R. Schran A !!0rneyRobert W.Beach A rotating chipping drum carrying a spiral row of bits is mountedin a hollow body with a portion of its periphery exposed to a chippingchamber for holding log sections to be chipped.'The rotative axis of thechipping drum may be inclined to urge a log section toward one end ofthe Chipping chamber. Each bit includes side plate portions arranged atdihedral angles to a central plate portion and is clamped betweenbit-holding blocks with the bit cutting edge projecting beyond theperiphery of the chipping drum.

. ...B27l 1l/02 144/162, 172, 326, 237; 241/93, 294

PERIPHERAL CHIPPER FOR ROUND LOG SECTIONS Thomas W. Nicholson, Mercerisland; Ray B. Jorgensen; Stanley Donald Vanek, both of Seattle, all ofWash.

Assignee: Nicholson Manufacturing Company, Seattle, Wash.

Filed: Dec. 8, 1969 Appl. No.: 883,038

Int. Field of Search References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 335,5322/1886 3,219,076 11/1965 Logan et a1.

United States Patent Nicholson et al.

[72] Inventors:

PATENTEIJMAY 9 1972 SHEET 1 OF 7 A/ 5/74/1/15/ M44440 VAAEK PATENTEBMAY9 I972 SHEET 2 [IF 7 A 7' raeA fi PATENTEDMAY 91972 3.661.,192

SHEET U 0F 7 5771/1/15 M10410 MA/EA W W minnow 9 m2 3,661,192

EMU 5 UP 7 BY 5774/1/[5/ M46410 7/11/56 WM. 1

PERIPHERAL CIIIPPER FOR ROUND LOG SECTIONS A principal object of theinvention is to provide a chipper which can chip small log sections andparticularly very short log sections, such as wheels, which aredifficult to hold for chipping by conventional chippers.

A further object is to provide a chipper which will enable small logsections of various sizes and shapes to be fed to it automatically.

Another object is to accomplish chipping of small log sections quicklyand completely.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a chipperwhich will produce chips of substantially uniform size and shape, andsuch object can be accomplished by providing an arrangement of chippingbits which will effect overlapping cuts.

An additional object is to facilitate removal of chips from the interiorof the chipper drum.

It is also an object to provide chip-cutting bits which can be heldsecurelyin the periphery of a chipping drum, yet which can be removed,sharpened and replaced quickly.

FIG. 1 is an end elevation of one form of chipper.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of such chipper with parts broken away.

FIG. 3 is a transverse section through the chipper taken on line 33 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section of a portion of the chipper shown inFIG. 3 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the chipping drum on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective of a portion of such drum.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary upright section showinga modified constructionof a portion of the chipper.

FIG. 9 is a plan of a portion of the chipping drum on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 10 is a section of such drum portion taken on line IO 10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a section through the same drum portion, taken along linellll of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a further section taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a top perspective of a cutting bit of the type shown in FIGS.9, 10,11 and 12.

FIG. 14 is a top perspective of an alternative type of cutting bit.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary radial section through a portion of the chipperdrum in which a bit of the type shown in FIG. 14 is mounted.

FIG. 16 is a section on line 1616 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is an exploded top perspective of the holding structure for abit of the type shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary enlarged radial section through a portion ofthe chipping drum, showing another type of bit installation.

FIG. 19 is a top perspective of the bit installation shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is an exploded top perspective of such bit installation.

FIG. 21 is an end elevation of a further modified type of chipper.

FIG. 22 is a section through such chipper taken on line 22- 22 of FIG.21.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged fragmentary radial section through a portion of achipper similar to that shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, but illustrating analternative type of structure.

FIG. 24 is a radial section comparable to FIG. 22, showing a chipper ofthe same general type, but having a somewhat modified structure.

FIG. 25 is an end elevation of another type of chipper according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 26 is a side elevation of such chipper showing an alternativeposition of the chipper in broken lines.

The chipper of the present invention is adapted for cutting small logsections into chips and for this purpose includes a hollow body 1 inwhich a chipping drum 2 is housed. Such drum is mounted for rotation onan axle 3 carrying a pulley 4 which can be rotated by one or more belts5, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, driven by a motor 6. Small log sections, andparticularly those of short axial length such as the log wheel L shownin FIG. 2, can be delivered to the chipper by a supply conveyor 7.

The supply conveyor 7 will dump the log wheel L into the chippingchamber 8 in the upper portion of the hollow chipper body 1 in anattitude such that the axis of the log section extends generallyparallel to the axis of the chipping drum. The axial extent of the logsection is less than the corresponding width of the chipping chamber, asindicated in FIG. 2, in which the log section is shown in broken lines.Consequently, the periphery of the log round will substantially engagethe periphery of the chipping drum. As shown in FIG. 2, the axle 3 maybe tilted to incline the axis of the drum 2 so that movement of the drumperiphery in contact with the periphery'of the log round will tend tourge the log round to move down to the broken line position shown inFIG. 2 in which it is supported by the lower end wall of the chippingchamber, and consequently cannot tip over.

The chip-cutting bits 9 are arranged in a spiral row around the chippingdrum 2, as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 6. Adjacent bits are arranged insufficiently overlapping relationship so that as the drum turns chipsare cut from the log round in successive layers. As shown in FIG. 6,each bit overlaps circumferentially the major portion of the width ofeach adjacent bit in an axial direction.

As shown best in FIGS. 9 to 12 the cutting bits 9 are received inapertures in the periphery of the drum 2, and the cutting ends of thebits project outward beyond the periphery of the drum and are spacedfrom the adjacent walls-of the apertures to provide passages through thecircumferential drum wall for chips cut from a log section.Consequently, it is necessary to remove the chips from the interior ofthe drum. For this purpose chip-removing means are disposed within thedrum which in the chipper shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is a chipdeflectorplate 10, shown best in FIGS. 3 and 7 as being inclined axially of thechipping drum for scooping the chips e'ndwise out of the drum during itsrotation. Such deflector plate is supported and positioned by struts l1and 12 secured to the chipperbody. I I

As shown best in FIG. 3, the left wall of the chipping chamber 8 towardwhich the periphery of drum 2 turns is disposed in convergentrelationship to the adjacent portion of the drum periphery. Rotation ofthe drum in the direction indicated by the arrow tends to move the logsection in the direction of rotation of the drum periphery and to pressthe log section against such wall. Continued rotation of the drumengaging one location of the log section will cut successive layers ofsuch location into chips so that such location of the log section willbecome concave complemental in curvature to the curvature of thechipping drum periphery. As more layers are removed from the logsection, such section will move farther into the angle between theconverging chipping chamber wall and the chipping drum periphery. If thelog section initially is round, it eventually will assume a crescentshape in cross section, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 3.

Because of the direction of rotation of the chipping drum and the effectof such direction of rotation on the movement of the log section, anychips and debris which do not pass through the apertures in the drumperiphery will tend to accumulate in the angle between the convergingchipping chamber wall and the drum periphery. If excessive materialcollects in such angle, it can be removed through an opening closed byan access door 13 pivotally mounted on the hollow body by a pivot 14 toswing between the solid-line closed position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 andthe broken-line open position of FIG. 4. Such clean-out door can be heldin closed position by securing the lug or tongue 15 carried by itsswinging edge to the adjacent wall of the body I by a bolt I6. Such boltcan be removed and the lug or tongue pulled outward to swing the dooropen.

During operation of the chipper the edge 17 of a plate secured to thebody 1 adjacent to the clean-out door 13 serves as an anvil. The anviledge 17 is preferably in the form of fingers, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,between which are notches 18 that will enable small pieces of debris andsmall stones to escape from the space between the converging chippingchamber wall and the drum periphery.

In some instances it may be desirable to feed log sections to thechipping drum, particularly if more than one log section is placed inthe chipping chamber at one time. For this purpose a swinging feed plate19 may be mounted on the wall of the chipping chamber away from whichthe periphery of the drum 2 turns, as shown in FIG. 8. The feed plate 19is mounted by a pivot 20, and its swinging edge is urged toward a logsection in the chipping chamber 8 by a weight 21 in the form of a nutadjustable toward and away from the pivot along a threaded mounting rod22 projecting substantially perpendicularly from the feed plate 19.Outward swinging of the feed plate is limited by engagement of itsswinging edge with a stop lip 23.

The spiral path around the drum 2 in which the bits 9 are mounted isdelineated by a spiral groove 24 in the drum wall and opening into theinterior of the drum, as shown best in FIGS. 7 and 10. The apertures 24in the wall of the drum in which the bits are mounted are located in thebottom of this groove. The bits 9 are received in these apertures andextend through them at an angle to the drum periphery so that thecutting ends of the bits project outward beyond the drum wall, as shownbest in FIGS. 10 and 12.

The cutting bits 9 are of dihedral cross section, including a firstplate portion 25 and at least one other plate portion disposed at adihedral angle to the first plate portion. In the cutting bit shown inFIG. 13 two planar side plate portions 26 are disposed in similardihedral relationship to the central planar plate portion 25 betweensuch side plate portions. One end of the central plate portion 25 isbeveled to form a cutting edge 27, and the corresponding end portions ofthe side plate portions 26 have similar bevels 28 to form cutting edges.The cutting edges formed by bevels 27 and 28 are disposed in a planewhich is substantially perpendicular to the plate portions 25 and 26 ofthe cutting bit.

In the bit 9 shown in FIG. 13 a deep notch 29 is provided in the buttend of the central plate portion 25 opposite its cutting edge end. Whenthe bit is placed between an outer bit-holding block 30 and an innerbit-holding block 31, such notch will straddle a bolt 32 connecting thebit-holding blocks. In the construction shown in FIGS. 9, l0 and 11 suchbolt extends through a shouldered aperture 33 in the outer bit-holdingblock 30 and is screwed into a threaded aperture in the innerbit-holdingblock 31.

The pair of bit-holding blocks 30 and 31 are of a size to fit into anaperture 24' in the drum periphery, and one of such blocks is anchoredin a drum aperture such as by being welded in place. In the bitinstallation shown in FIGS. 9, l0 and 11 the outer bit-holding block 30is welded in the drum aperture, and the inner bit-holding block 31 canbe pulled toward the outer block into clamping engagement with a bit 9between such block, by tightening rotation of the bolt 32.

The underside of the outer block 30 and the outer side of the innerblock 31 are of complemental shape conforming substantially to thecross-sectional shape of the bit 9. The outer surface of the inner block31 has in it a recess 34 of a depth slightly less than the thickness ofthe bit. Consequently, when the bolt 32 is tightened with the bitreceived in such recess and with the notch 29 straddling the bolt, thebit will be clamped firmly between the blocks. In order to locate theblocks accurately relative to each other longitudinally, a key isengaged in registering keyways in the inner end portions of the blocks.

In installing a bit 9 the key 35 is located in the keyway of inner block31, and such block is inserted within the drum and the key engaged inthe keyway of block 30. Then the bolt 32 is inserted through theaperture 33 in block 30 and screwed into the threaded aperture of block31 to draw it outward. When the block 31 has been moved to a positionclose to block 30 while affording sufficient clearance between theblocks for reception of bit 9, the bit can be slid butt first throughthe aperture 24' between the blocks until it has been located with thedesired degree of cutting end projection. The bolt 32 is then tightenedto secure the bit firmly in this position.

While the bit 9, shown in FIGS. 9 to 13, has cutting edges at only oneend, FIGS. 14 to 17 show a bit of similar cross-sectional shape buthaving cutting edges at both ends. Ifthe cutting edges at one end shouldbecome dull the bits can simply be reversed end-for-end to presentsharpened cutting edges 27 and 28' for engaging the log sections. Such adouble-ended bit can be secured between the blocks 30 and 31 describedin connection with FIGS. 9 to 12. It is preferred, however, that such abit be mounted by the blocks 30 and 31', shown in FIGS. 15, 16 and 17.

In general the operation of the bit-clamping blocks 30 and 31' issimilar to that of blocks 30 and 31. In this instance, however, theblocks 30' project farther beyond the periphery of the drum 2 to providebetter backing for the projecting end portion of the bit 9'. The cuttingedges 27 and 28 will still project beyond the end of block 30'. Theopposite cutting edges 27' and 28 will be received in the cavity 34' atthe outer side of bolt 32. The corners of the projecting portion ofblock 30' are chamfered, as shown best in FIG. 17, to avoid contact withthe log round.

The inner block 31' is thicker than the block 31 to provide greaterrigidity. Also, in place of the key 35 a fulcrum block 35' is secured tothe underside of the outer block 30', and such fulcrum block is thickerthan the bit. Consequently, as the bolt 32 is tightened, the outer tipof block 31" will be pressed against the underside of the bit toconcentrate the clamping pressure near the tip of the bit and provideclearance 34" between the inner block 3]"and the inner end portion ofthe bit. Such block assembly clamps the bit more securely than theassembly of FIGS. 9 to 12.

In FIGS. l8, l9 and 20 a further modified pair of bit-clamping blocks isshown. Such blocks are illustrated as clamping a bit 9" which has thesame shape of cross section as the bits 9 and 9' described previously.In this instance, however, the butt of the bit has square end portions27" and 28" instead of being sharpened. The blocks of FIGS. 18, 19 and20 could, however, be used to clamp the bit of the 9' type if desiredinstead of the bit 9".

While the outer blocks 30 and 30 described above have been anchored inthe drum apertures 24' by welding, the block 30" shown in FIGS. 18, 19and 20 is loose. Instead the inner block 31" is anchored in the aperture24' by welding. Also, instead of the blocks 30" and 31" being connectedby a key, the inner block 31" has an outwardly projecting lug 35 fittingin a recess in the butt of the outer block 30". Such outer block has anaperture 33 through which a bolt 32 extends, and this bolt is screwedinto a threaded aperture in inner block 31' to draw the outer block intobit-clamping relationship by tightening the bolt.

In this instance also the inner block has an outer recess 34' in whichthe bit 9" is received. Such recess and lug 35 are proportioned toprovide clearance 34" between the inner block 31" and the butt of thebit 9". Again, therefore, as the bolt 32 is tightened the clampingpressure of the blocks on the bit will be concentrated at the outer endsof the blocks adjacent to the bit cutting end, as shown best in FIG. 18.

In FIGS. 21 and 22 a modified chipper is shown having a hollow body 36providing an upper chipping chamber similar to that shown in the chipperof FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Such chipping chamber has a feed plate 19 swingablymounted by a pivot 20 similar to the feed plate described in connectionwith FIG. 8. In this instance, however, instead of a weight beingprovided to swing the feed plate, a tension spring 37 interconnects anarm 38 projecting from the pivoted end of the plate 19 and an anchoringlug 39 on the body 36. The action of such plate is similar to that shownin FIG. 8, but is somewhat more positive. Also, spikes 40 projectinginwardly from the wall of the chipping chamber converging with theperiphery of the drum can be engaged by a log round L to deter rotationof such round.

This chipper has a second chipping chamber at the side of the drum 2 towhich a portion of the drum periphery is exposed through the opening 41.The chipping chamber 42 is shown in FIG. 22 as being narrower than thechipping chamber 8 to receive log rounds L of smaller diameter thanwould normally be chipped in the chipping chamber 8. Also, such logrounds may be longer than the rounds L. Such rounds can be fed to thechipping chamber 42 by a conveyor 43.

FIG. 23 shows an access and clean-out door 44 at the bottom of thechipping chamber 42. Such door is swingably supported by a pivotmounting 45 at its lower end, and a lip 46 projecting beyond its upperend can be secured by a latching wedge 47. The lower portion of the doormay be supported from its pivot mounting by adjusting screws 48, whichcan be moved to vary the proximity of the lower portion of the door tothe periphery of drum 2.

The chipper shown in FIG. 24 is similar to that of FIGS. 21 and 22except that the secondary chipping chamber has been omitted. Instead theopening 41 of the chipper shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 is replaced by aclosure wall 49. The other parts of this chipper are similar to theparts described in connection with FIGS. 21 and 22.

Still a different type of chipper construction is shown in FIGS. and 26.In this instance the hollow body 50 has a chipper drum 51 mounted in ithaving chipping bits mounted on its periphery of any of the typesdescribed above. One end of the drum rests on rollers 52 mounted onaxles 53 received in bearings 54. The drum is held in place on suchrollers by hold-down rollers 55 mounted on axles 56 and bearing againstthe upper portion of the drum. The opposite end of the drum is supportedby an axle 57 which is turned by a pulley 48. This pulley is driven byone or more drive belts 59 powered by motor 60.

The chipper of FIGS. 25 and 26 has a longer chipping chamber than thechipper shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Longer log rounds L" can be fed tosuch chipping chamber by a supply conveyor 7. Because the log rounds L"are of considerably greater axial length than the log wheels L, thechipper body can be arranged so that the axis of the chipping drum ishorizontal, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 26. Consequently, it isnecessary to remove the chips from the interior of the drum 51 otherthan by gravity.

Particularly in FIG. 25 downwardly convergent chipcatching plates 61 areshown, which are joined by a trough 62. A screw conveyor 63 located insuch trough can be driven by reduction gearing 64 to move the chips outone end of the trough. Such reduction gearing is driven by a chain 65powered by a motor 66, as shown in FIG. 26.

While, as has been discussed above, the chipper shown in FIGS. 25 and 26is particularly suitable for chipping log rounds of a length greaterthan wheels, the same chipper can be used satisfactorily for chippinglog wheels L which can be fed to it by a supply conveyor 7. In thisinstance, however, the chipper body 50 should be tilted into thebroken-line position shown in FIG. 26 so that the wheels will gravitatetoward the lower end of the chipping chamber to prevent them fromfalling over.

We claim:

1. A peripheral chipper comprising a hollow body having therein achipping chamber, a rotary chipping drum including a plurality of bitsarranged in a spiral row around the periphery of said chipping drum andhaving cutting edges projecting generally tangentially from theperiphery of said drum, and means mounting said chipping drum below saidchipping chamber for rotation with a portion of its periphery exposed tosaid chipping chamber for engagement by a log section in said chamber,said chipping chamber including a wall toward which the upper portion ofthe periphery of said drum moves including an upper substantiallyvertical portion extending downward from the upper edge of said chi pingchamber and a fixed lower portion converging from sar substantiallyvertical upper portion at an acute angle to the adjacent portion of saidchipping drum periphery.

2. The chipper defined in claim 1, in which the drum mounting meansmounts the chipping drum with the upper side of its periphery inclinedfor urging a log section in the chipping chamber toward the lowerportion of the drum periphery upper side, and the lower end wall of thechipping chamber is substantially perpendicular to the upper side of thedrum periphery.

3. The chipper defined in claim 1, and chip-removing means disposedwithin the chipping drum and extending through substantially the entirelength of the drum.

4. The chipper defined in claim 1, in which the periphery of thechipping drum has in it apertures arranged in a spiral row, each adaptedto receive a single cutter bit, each bit is a bent plate, and a pair ofbit-holding blocks for each bit including an inner block and an outerblock between which a bit is clamped, said inner block being permanentlysecured in an aperture of the chipping drum and said outer block beingremovably secured to said inner block.

5. The chipper defined in claim 1, and a notched anvil mounted adjacentto the periphery of the chipping drum on the chipping chamber wallconvergent with an adjacent portion of the drum periphery.

6. The chipper defined in claim 3, in which the chip-removing meansincludes a deflector plate inclined axially of the chipping drum forscooping the chips endwise out of the drum during its rotation.

1. A peripheral chipper comprising a hollow body having therein achipping chamber, a rotary chipping drum including a plurality of bitsarranged in a spiral row around the periphery of said chipping drum andhaving cutting edges projecting generally tangentially from theperiphery of said drum, and means mounting said chipping drum below saidchipping chamber for rotation with a portion of its periphery exposed tosaid chipping chamber for engagement by a log section in said chamber,said chipping chamber including a wall toward which the upper portion ofthe periphery of said drum moves including an upper substantiallyvertical portion extending downward from the upper edge of said chippingchamber and a fixed lower portion converging from said substantiallyvertical upper portion at an acute angle to the adjacent portion of saidchipping drum periphery.
 2. The chipper defined in claim 1, in which thedrum mounting means mounts the chipping drum with the upper side of itsperiphery inclined for urging a log section in the chipping chambertoward the lower portion of the drum periphery upper side, and the lowerend wall of the chipping chamber is substantially perpendicular to theupper side of the drum periphery.
 3. The chipper defined in claim 1, andchip-removing means disposed within the chipping drum and extendingthrough substantially the entire length of the drum.
 4. The chipperdefined in claim 1, in which the periphery of the chipping drum has init apertures arranged in a spiral row, each adapted to receive a singlecutter bit, each bit is a bent plate, and a pair of bit-holding blocksfor each bit including an inner block and an outer block between which abit is clamped, said inner block being permanently secured in anaperture of the chipping drum and said outer block being removablysecured to said inner block.
 5. The chipper defined in claim 1, and anotched anvil mounted adjacent to the periphery of the chipping drum onthe chipping chamber wall convergent with an adjacent portion of thedrum periphery.
 6. The chipper defined in claim 3, in which thechip-removing means includes a deflector plate inclined axially of thechipping drum for scooping the chips endwise out of the drum during itsrotation.